Fence Post Assembly

ABSTRACT

A fence post assembly comprises a pre-fabricated concrete footer, a cap plate attached to a surface end of said pre-fabricated concrete footer, a rigid support rod extending upwardly from said pre-fabricated concrete footer and through said cap plate, and a fence post having a blind hole through a bottom end thereof. The fence post being downwardly positioned over said rigid support rod with said rigid support rod disposed within said blind hole and said bottom end engaged with said cap plate. And, a plurality of fence post withdrawal preventing members that projecting from said rigid support rod and are engaged with said fence post so as to prevent withdrawing said rigid support rod from said blind hole.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to fence construction. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel fence post assembly that simplifies fence construction and prevents fence post rot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The construction of a wood fence has changed very little over the years. Conventionally, a wood fence post is set into a post hole formed in the ground to a depth of a number of feet that is sufficient to provide vertical support to the wood fence post. The fence post is supported by back filling the post hole with soil and/or a combination of soil and concrete which serves to vertically support the fence post.

The conventional wood fence construction presents a number of problems. One problem is associated with fence post rot that is caused by the wood fence posts being buried in the ground. The life span of a newly constructed fence is greatly diminished due to the inevitable rotting of the fence posts. A tangential problem with rotting fence posts is that the posts rot at different rates, and thus, require constant fence maintenance to replace each fence post as it rots.

A second problem associated with conventional wood fence construction is the extensive labor required to replace a rotten fence post. Often, when a fence post rots it breaks below the ground surface leaving a section of the post that is buried in the ground. The buried section then must be dug out and removed to enable the replacement of a new fence post in the same location. The labor in digging out the buried section is increased several times when concrete is used as back fill. Often the concrete must be broken up into smaller sections to permit removal. Additionally, to dig out the buried section, a hole several times larger than what is necessary to support a fence post is required. This larger hole causes a disruption of the ground surrounding the post hole, which often requires the use of additional concrete as back fill to support the new fence post.

Despite these problems, little advancement has been made to improve wood fence construction, and particularly, in the setting of the wood fence posts. However, with increasing in labor costs, environmental concerns, and material costs, a need and a desire exists for an improved wood fence construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a specially designed fence post assembly having a wood fence post mounted to and vertically supported by a pre-cast concrete footer that is set into the ground. The pre-cast concrete footer is dimensioned so as to minimize fence post-to-ground contact, thereby preventing fence post rot. Additionally, the fence post assembly is designed in such a manner that permits easy replacement of a damaged fence post as compared to a damage fence post that is set into the ground by the conventional construction discussed above.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a fence post assembly comprising a pre-cast, light weight concrete footer that includes expanded foam aggregate, such as Styrofoam and the like.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a fence post assembly that eliminates the need to burry a wood fence post in the ground while maintaining the traditional appearance of a conventional wood fence construction.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a fence post assembly that simplifies replacing damaged or broken fence posts.

To achieve these and other advantages, in general, in one aspect, a fence post assembly comprises a pre-fabricated concrete footer, a rigid support rod extending upwardly from the pre-fabricated concrete footer, and a fence post having a blind hole through a bottom end thereof. The fence post being downwardly positioned over the rigid support rod with the rigid support rod received within the blind hole. And, at least one fence post withdrawal preventing member that projects laterally from the side of the rigid support rod and is engaged with the fence post so as to prevent withdrawal of the rigid support rod from the blind hole.

To achieve these and other advantages, in general, in one aspect, a fence post assembly comprises a pre-fabricated concrete footer, a cap plate attached to a surface end of said pre-fabricated concrete footer, a rigid support rod extending upwardly from said pre-fabricated concrete footer and through said cap plate, and a fence post having a blind hole through a bottom end thereof. The fence post being downwardly positioned over said rigid support rod with said rigid support rod disposed within said blind hole and said bottom end engaged with said cap plate. And, a plurality of fence post withdrawal preventing members that projecting from said rigid support rod and are engaged with said fence post so as to prevent withdrawing said rigid support rod from said blind hole.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings illustrate by way of example and are included to provide further understanding of the invention for the purpose of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature of a feature with similar functionality. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fence post assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged view of the cross-section of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view, similar to FIG. 3, illustrating an alternative embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view, similar to FIG. 3, illustrating an alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, a new fence post assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the present invention and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.

The fence post assembly 10 is specially designed to enable easier fence construction and to prevent fence post rotting by eliminating the requirement of sinking a wooden fence post into the ground. The fence post assembly 10 generally comprises a fence post 12 supported on a pre-fabricated concrete footer 14 that is sunk into the ground 18 and which supports the fence post above the ground. The footer 14 is made from precast concrete which may be optionally prestressed or post tensioned. The precast concrete may also include expanded foam particles to lessen the weight of the footer 14. As illustrated the footer 14 is generally elongated and has a square cross section of a size equal to the cross-section of the fence post 12.

A support rod 16 extends upwardly from the footer 14 and may be of traditional rebar, other tubular steel or the like. The support rod 16 is embedded into the footer 14 when the footer is precast, and may serve to help reinforce the footer. The support rod 16 extends into a blind hole 20 formed through a bottom end 22 of the fence post 12 and vertically supports the fence post on the footer 14.

At least one, but preferably a plurality of fence post withdrawal preventing members 24 project or extend outwardly from the side 26 of the support rod 16 and engage with the fence post 12 such that the support rod is restrained against withdrawal from the blind hole 20 of the fence post. Members 24 may comprise downwardly facing barbs, circumferential ribs, screw-like ridges, and the like so long as the members act to engage the fence post and prevent support rod 16 withdrawal.

A cap plate 28 may be secured to the surface end 30 of the footer 14 and attached to the support rod 16. Cap plate 28 serves as a bearing surface upon which the bottom end 22 of the fence post 12 may be engaged to further support the fence post upon the footer 14. Cap plate 28 is sized to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the footer 14 to provide a uniform transition between the fence post 12, cap plate 28 and footer 14 so as to have the same general configuration as a standard fence post that is sunk into the ground. In this manner, no edges are presented that could present a safety hazard or an undesirable appearance.

In use, one would initially form a hole in the ground to receive the pre-fabricated footer 14. The depth of the hole is fashioned such that with the footer 14 positioned in the hole, the surface end 30 is about flush with the ground surface. The hole is then back filed with the earth displaced by creating the hole for the footer 14 while ensuring the support rod 16 is plumb. Once the footer 14 is secured in the ground, the fence post 12 is mounted to the footer by aligning the support rod 16 with the blind hole 20 and downwardly moving the fence post over the support rod, thereby fully inserting the support rod into the fence post. Once the fence post 12 is mounted to the footer 14, fence panels may be secured in a traditional fashion to the fence post.

Alternative embodiments are possible. With reference to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the fence post assembly 10′, and wherein like reference numbers refer to the same or similar elements as embodiment 10 discussed above. Fence post assembly 10′ is similar to assembly 10 with the exception of a support rod 16′ provided without fence post withdrawal preventing members 24. In assembly 10′ a suitable adhesive 32 disposed within the blind hole 20 binds the support rod 16′ and the fence post 12 to prevent withdrawal of the support rod from the blind hole. With reference to FIG. 5, assembly 10′ is illustrated without adhesive 32 which may be desirable.

A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fence post assembly, comprising: a pre-fabricated concrete footer; a rigid support rod extending upwardly from said pre-fabricated concrete footer; a fence post having a blind hole through a bottom end thereof, said fence post downwardly positioned over said rigid support rod with said rigid support rod received within said blind hole; and at least one fence post withdrawal preventing member projecting laterally from the side of said rigid support rod and engaged with said fence post so as to prevent withdrawal of said rigid support rod from said blind hole.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one fence post withdrawal preventing member is a downwardly facing barb.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a cap plate attached to said support rod, said cap plate attached to a surface end of said pre-fabricated concrete footer.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said pre-fabricated concrete footer comprises expanded foam particles.
 5. A fence post assembly, comprising: a pre-fabricated concrete footer; a cap plate attached to a surface end of said pre-fabricated concrete footer; a rigid support rod extending upwardly from said pre-fabricated concrete footer and through said cap plate; a fence post having a blind hole through a bottom end thereof, said fence post downwardly positioned over said rigid support rod with said rigid support rod disposed within said blind hole and said bottom end engaged with said cap plate; and a plurality of fence post withdrawal preventing members projecting from said rigid support rod and engaged with said fence post so as to prevent withdrawing said rigid support rod from said blind hole.
 6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said rigid support rod is attached to said cap plate.
 7. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said pre-fabric concrete footer comprises expanded foam particles.
 8. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said at least one fence post withdrawal preventing member is a downwardly facing barb.
 9. A fence post assembly, comprising: a pre-fabricated concrete footer; a rigid support rod extending upwardly from said pre-fabricated concrete footer; a fence post having a blind hole through a bottom end thereof, said fence post downwardly positioned over said rigid support rod with said rigid support rod received within said blind hole.
 10. The fence post assembly of claim 9, further comprising: a cap plate attached to a surface end of said pre-fabricated concrete footer.
 11. The fence post assembly of claim 9, further comprising: an adhesive disposed in said blind hole bonding said rigid support rod and said fence post.
 12. The fence post assembly of claim 11, further comprising: a cap plate attached to a surface end of said pre-fabricated concrete footer. 